BIW won’t protest CG award

Bath Iron Works officials in Portland, Maine, have decided not to formally protest the Coast Guard’s decision to award a multi-billion dollar cutter contract to Eastern Shipbuilding Group of Panama City. Under federal rules, BIW had 10 days to file a protest. The contract was for building the first nine of a new class of offshore patrol cutters. The entire 25-ship contract had an estimated value of about $10.5 billion. Representatives from General Dynamics-owned BIW met with CG officials to discuss the contract decision about a week after the announcement. BIW competed for the contract against Eastern Shipbuilding and Bollinger (La.) Shipyards, both of which are non-unionized yards. (Source: Portland Press 10/06/16)